If You Ban It, They Will Come

New tighter ethics rules may have slowed the gravy train of gratis booze, hors d'oeuvres and cushy seats on corporate jets. But those ever-creative geniuses of capitalism have found a way to take lemons and make ... loads of money. One little jet company that could is peddling its new ethics rule-compliant services to Members who've had enough of flying (sniff!) business class.

Executives from Blue Star Jets have been on a scouting mission in Washington this week figuring out the best way to tap into the market of aisle-seat-weary Members following ethics-rule rewrites. The company, which provides a la carte airplane and helicopter rentals, is gearing up for a to-be-announced "widely attended" event that it plans to host on Capital Hill, at which it'll lay out its unique services, bargain prices and, best yet, ethics-rules-proof approach.

Although HOH didn't have a team of lawyers on hand to sort through the company's claims, Blue Star Jets spokesman said the company is looking to enlist "deep-pocketed" Members and campaign committees looking for a more convenient and comfortable air-travel option than, well, waiting in line like everyone else --- or paying the retail rate for flying a corporate jet.

"Flying [on private jets] has been somewhat of a pariah" said spokesman Marco Larsen. Larsen said choosing to reimburse companies for the use of their private jets --- required under the new rules --- is expensive, since most corporate jets are "heavy jets" with market rates between $5,000 to $8,000 per hour.

But you don't need a heavy jet," Larsen insisted. And that's where Blue Star comes in: the company wants to introduce Members to "a new breed" of smaller, cheaper private jets.

"They're perfect for point-to-point travel, not too-far trips," Larsen continued. "Those are about $1,200 per hour."

Which is still pricier than flying commercial, of course. But for Members looking to keep their (ethical) noses clean, it just might be a bargain.

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